How Many Players are Needed in Lacrosse? How Many Players are Needed in Lacrosse? by Anonymous How many players are required to play lacrosse? ------------------------------------------------------------- Answer This is a tricky question. And it depends on the type and level of lacrosse. For college mens field lacrosse according to the NCAA rule book 10 players must start a game per side but a team can play with fewer if a team loses a player during the game due to penalty or injury. For High School and Youth boys/mens field lacrosse each team should start with 10 each, but that number can be lowered as low as 7 per side if both sides agree to play with less. For Womens/Girls Field Lacrosse 12 players per side is a full team and is typically the number played with. However the rule book states that any number of players up to 12 may be used if agreed by both sides. Box Lacrosse is played with 6 players per side. I hope this helps Happy Laxin.

Jamey LaxPower Recruiting Guide Recruiting Guide  II: Scholarship Availability By Bill Allen, LaxPower.com It is very competitive to play lacrosse at the top college level, and players (and their parents) often underestimate this fact. For Division I schools, over 200,000 high school players compete for about 500 spots each year. A balanced men's college team will need between 10 and 15 new players every year, a figure that is even smaller for women's lacrosse. Consequently, coaches will need to look at 100-150 new players annually. Many players and parents operate under the misconception that athletic scholarships are abundant. Less than half of the players Division I or Division II receive any athletic scholarship money at all, and most of those are not ï¿½full rides.ï¿½ How the money is split depends on the coach and the positional needs of the program each year. There is no set formula. In Division III, scholarships are based only on academic merit and financial need, and no athletic scholarships are available. The NCAA allows each Division I lacrosse program 12.6 scholarships for men and 12.0 for women.

In Division II, there are 10.8 scholarships for men and 9.9 for women. At the moment, there are 59 Division I and 47 Division II programs that offer lacrosse scholarships for men. That's a total of 1,251 scholarships (assuming all were offered). There are 89 Division I and 71 Division II programs that offer scholarships for women, a total of 1,771. The numbers above may be reduced, as not all colleges are fully funded to the maximum number of scholarships allowed, so this is good information to ask about in the recruiting process. As noted above, a full athletic scholarship is rare in lacrosse, especially for unproven recruits, and most scholarships are partial. The amount can increase or decrease each year and may also vary depending on a player performance. In NCAA Divisions I and II, athletic scholarships are NOT guaranteed for four years. Although it is rare for a scholarship not to be renewed, that can happen (for example, if a player breaks school rules). It's also possible that a coach may decide to give a scholarship to another player/recruit.

The NAIA does not yet include lacrosse as an official sport, but the number of NAIA schools playing lacrosse continues to increase, and scholarships are available but under different rules and limitations than the NCAA. The National Junior College Athletic Association ( NJCAA ) grants 20 full scholarships per college for both women and men. A full athletic scholarship includes tuition, room and board. Some junior colleges offer partial scholarships. There are 26 schools that offer lacrosse scholarships for men and over 20 for women. Each school can offer only 20 in total. Unlike the NCAA, they are not permitted to offer a larger number of scholarships at a lower percentage. In a 2008 article entitled the Expectations Lose to Reality of Sports Scholarships , Griffin Palmer and Bill Pennington of The New York Times provide an analysis of previously undisclosed data from the NCAA and report on interviews with dozens of college officials regarding the scholarship divide in college sports. Women's lacrosse | Women Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Add Image Women's lacrosse, sometimes shortened to lax, is a sport played with twelve players on each team. Originally played by the indigenous peoples of the Americas .

The modern women's game was introduced in 1890 at the St Leonard's School in Scotland. The rules of women's lacrosse differ significantly from men's field lacrosse . The object of the game is to use a long handled stick (known as a crosse or lacrosse stick ) to catch, carry, and pass a solid rubber ball in an effort to score by ultimately getting the ball into an opponent's goal. Usually there is a certain technique to the throw such as underhand, overhand, sidearm etc. The head of the lacrosse stick has a mesh net strung into it that allows the player to hold the lacrosse ball . Defensively the object is to keep the opposing team from scoring and to dispossess them of the ball through the use of stick checking and body positioning. The rules of women's lacrosse are very complicated, and very different than the men's lacrosse game. Equipment required to play is also different than the men's. Women are only required to wear eyewear/lacrosse goggles, and a mouth guard. Their stick has restrictions too, it has to be a certain length and the pocket cannot be too deep. At the collegiate level, lacrosse is represented by the National Collegiate Athletic Association .

In the United States an NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship is held each spring. Internationally women's lacrosse has a thirty-one member group called the Federation of International Lacrosse , which sponsors the Women's Lacrosse World Cup once every four years. Contents Edit Known as the "fastest sport on two feet," lacrosse is a traditional Native American game which was first witnessed by Europeans when French Jesuit missionaries in the St. Lawrence Valley witnessed the game in the 1630s.These games were sometimes major events that could last several days. As many as 100 to 1,000 men from opposing villages or tribes would participate. Native American lacrosse describes a broad variety of stick and ball games played by the indigenous people. Geography and tribal customs dictate the extent to which women participated in these early games. "Lacrosse, as women play it, is an orderly pastime that has little in common with the men's tribal warfare version except the long-handled racket or crosse (stick) that gives the sport its name.

It's true that the object in both the men's and women's lacrosse is to send a ball through a goal by means of the racket, but whereas men resort to brute strength the women depend solely on skill." Rosabelle Sinclair The first modern women’s lacrosse game was played in 1890 at the St Leonards School in Scotland, where women's lacrosse had been introduced by Louisa Lumsden . Lumsden brought the game to Scotland after watching a men's lacrosse game between the Canghuwaya Indians and the Montreal Lacrosse Club . One of Lumsden's students, Rosabelle Sinclair , established the first women's lacrosse team in the United States was at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore , Maryland. Women's and mens field lacrosse were played under virtually the same rules, with no protective equipment, until the mid-1930s. Rules Edit Women’s lacrosse is played with a team of 12 players; one of the players is usually the goalkeeper. The ball used is typically yellow. But if both teams agree then the game can be played with a different coloured ball. The duration of the game is 60 minutes, two halves of 30 minutes each.

Each team is allowed two 90-second team time-outs per game (two 2-minute timeouts in the USA). Time-outs may be taken after a goal has been scored. In the USA rules a team with possession of the ball may call a time out, although this rule does not apply to the International game. The women's lacrosse game saw numerous rule changes in 2000. [11 ] Modifications include limiting the amount of players allowed between the two restraining lines on the draw to five players per team. Stick modifications have led to offset heads, which allow the women's game to move faster and makes stick moves and tricks easier. In 2002, goggles became mandatory equipment in the United States (but not a requirement in international rules). In 2006, hard boundaries were adopted.The rules of women's lacrosse differ significantly from men's lacrosse. The details which follow are the USA rules. International women's lacrosse rules are slightly different.

Edit Women play with three attackers (starting with the position closest to the net that a team is shooting at, the attack positions are called "first home", "second home", and "third home"), five midfielders (a "right attack wing", a "left attack wing", a "right defensive wing", a "left defensive wing", and a "center"), three defenders (starting from the position closest to the net a team is defending, these positions are called "point", "cover point", and "third man"), and one goalie. Seven players play attack at one time and seven defenders are present. There is a restraining line that keeps the other four players (plus the goalie) from going into the attack. If those players cross the line, they are considered off-sides and a penalty is given. Edit Women's lacrosse rules are specifically designed to allow less physical contact between players. As a result of the lack of contact, the only protective equipment required is a mouth guard and face guard/goggles.Players have the option of wearing eye protection, although it is not mandated under international rules. In addition, players may choose to wear gloves.

Although these are the only protective equipment, there are still many injuries due to accidental checks to the head and the overall aggressiveness of the sport. The pockets of women's sticks are shallower than those of the men, making the ball harder to catch and more difficult to shoot at high speed. The pockets also make it harder to cradle without dropping the ball. Jewelry is not recommended to be worn during play as it can get caught on a number of things, during a game no jewelry is allowed to be worn. Edit There are two different surroundings around the goal on both sides of the field; the eight meter arc and the 12 meter fan. When committing a major foul inside either of these areas, the offense regains the ball and has a direct opportunity to goal. If outside the 8-meter arc, but inside the fan, a "lane" to goal is cleared of all other players and the person who committed the foul is relocated 4 meters behind the offender. If inside the 8-meter-arc and a defensive foul occurs, all players that were previously inside the surrounding must take the most direct route out.

The player who was fouled now moves to the nearest hash mark that is located around the edges of the arc and has a direct lane to goal. The defender who committed the foul is relocated on the 12-meter fan directly behind the shooter. If a player fouled another player not in the arc, the victim receives the ball and the player who fouled must back away at least 4 meters. All other players standing closer than 4 meters to the ball holder must also back away to give the girl room to move with the ball.The size of the playing field depends on the players' age group. For U15 and U13 players, they must play on a regulation sized field with all appropriate markings. For U11, they must play on a regulation sized field with all appropriate markings whenever possible. Otherwise they may play on a modified field with reduced players. For U9 players the fields must be rectangular, between 60–70 yards in length and 30–40 yards in width to accommodate play on existing fields. The shooting space rule in women's lacrosse is very important in keeping the players safe.

It occurs when a defender moves into the offender's shooting lane to goal, at an angle that makes the defender at risk of being hit by the ball if the offender were to shoot. [ edit ]Duration and tie-breaking methods Edit Women's games are played in two 30-minute halves (two 25-minute halves for high school varsity). These 30 minutes periods are running time (may be stop-clock after goals in USA rules), except for the last two minutes, during which time stops when the whistle is blown. While the whistle is blown, players must stand in place. In women's lacrosse, players are not allowed to intentionally touch the ball with their body to gain an advantage or cover the ball to protect it from being picked up by an opponent. Should a tie remain after regulation the teams play 5-minute golden goal overtime periods until one team scores, which wins them the game. [ edit ]Ball in and out of play Edit The "draw" is what starts the game and keeps the game going after a goal is scored. The draw is when two girls, one from each team, stand in the center circle with the backs of their sticks facing each other. Then the referee places the ball between the two sticks.

Each player has to push their sticks together parallel to the ground to contain the ball. There are allowed four players from each team ( two Midfielders, one Attack wing, and one Defense wing)to stand along the circle surrounding the center circle during the draw. The players’ sticks around the circle cannot break the line until the whistle is blown. The centers must lift and pull their sticks over their heads releasing the ball. When the referee blows the whistle during play everyone must stop exactly where they are. If the ball goes out of bounds on a shot then the player that is closest to the ball receives the possession. If the ball goes out of bounds not on a shot then the other team is awarded with the possession. For example, if a player threw a bad pass to her teammate and the ball went out of bounds then the other team would receive the ball. If the ball goes out of bounds on a shot, it is common for the player to reach out her stick in an attempt to be ruled closest to the ball and gain possession. Protecting one's stick from being checked is a very important key in the game of women's lacrosse. In order to protect the stick from being checked, the player must cradle the ball.

If the player has a strong "cradle", it would make it much more difficult to recover the ball for the opposing team. "Cradling" is the back and forth movement and twisting of the head of the stick, which keeps the ball in the pocket with centripetal force. Allowable checking is based on what age level of the game is being played. Rules for U15 and above allow lacrosse players full checking above the head. However, this requires that at least one of the two umpires have a USL Local Rating so that they can judge the appropriate amount of contact. In most cases, a check into the head area is a mandatory red card. If a sufficiently experienced umpire is not available, then U13 checking rules must be used where modified checking only below the shoulder is allowed. Also in U13, a check into the head area is a yellow card rather than a mandatory red card. In U11 and U9 no checking is allowed. US Lacrosse rules recommend that Middle School/Junior High players play with U13 checking rules. In women's lacrosse, players may only check if the check is directed away from the ball carrier's head.

Also, players may only check using the side of their stick. If caught by one of the referees using the flat of the head, it will be called as a "held check" and the opposing team will get the ball. There are two types of fouls in woman's lacrosse, major and minor. When a minor foul is committed anywhere on the field, the player who committed the fouled is set four meters to whichever side she was last guarding the person she obstructed. If a major foul occurs outside of the twelve meter fan or eight meter arc, the fouler must stand four meters behind the player she fouled. Penalties for women's lacrosse are assessed with the following cards: The green card, given to the team captain, is for a delay of game. The yellow card is for a first-time penalty and results in the player being removed from the field for three minutes. In the U.S.: any player receiving two yellows sits out the rest of the game but is allowed to play in the next game. The red card is the result either of two yellow cards or a flagrant foul or extremely unsportsmanlike behavior, and causes the player to be ejected from the game.

If the red card is for unsportsmanlike behavior, the player is also not permitted to play in the following game. U.S. rules differ in that a red card is not the result of two yellow cards and any player receiving a red card sits out the rest of that game and her team's next game. Penalties assessed include: Edit Beginning in 1972, the sport was governed internationally by the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA). The formation of the IFWLA actually predated that of the corresponding body for men's lacrosse, the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF), by two years. In August 2008, after negotiations lasting four years, the IFWLA and ILF agreed to merge into a single governing body, the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL). All tournaments operated by the IFWLA have been taken over by the FIL. Every four years, the Women's Lacrosse World Cup is held. It was organized by the IFWLA before its merger with the IFL, and is now organized by the FIL.

The most recent edition was held in Prague in 2009, and saw the fourth consecutive matchup of the United States and Australia in the final. The USA avenged their 2005 defeat by Australia. Lacrosse Rules & Regulations | iSport.com Lacrosse Rules & Regulations Lacrosse Rules & Regulations If you’re a fan of basketball, football or hockey, then odds are you will like lacrosse. The game play is similar to basketball in terms of offensive and defensive schemes. The shooting and scoring reminds many people of hockey, and the open-field running and hitting is reminiscent of football. Lacrosse actually predates all of those sports, in regards to how long it has been played. To the casual fan, however, it may seem like it has taken or borrowed rules and game play from other popular sports. Here is a basic overview of the rules and regulations of lacrosse: The Field Lacrosse is played on a field that is 110 yards long and 60 yards wide. The surface must be of either grass or artificial turf. The lacrosse field is divided into two halves by the midfield line, which extends 60 yards directly across the middle of the field, from sideline to sideline.

In the center of the midfield line is the faceoff X. The X is where face-offs take place at the beginning of each quarter, as well as after a goal is scored. Each team has an offensive and defensive half of the field. The offensive half of the field is where a team attempts to score goals. The defensive half is where teams must protect their goal so the opposition does not score. There is one goal on each half of the field. These goals are 6 feet high and wide. Both goals are surrounded by a crease, into which no player from the opposing team may enter under any circumstances. Offensive players are allowed to use their sticks to reach into the crease, but no parts of their body may enter. The crease is circular, with a diameter of 18 feet. Players on the defensive team may enter the crease, but only if they do not have possession of the ball at the time of entry. There is no limit to how many players from the defense may be in the crease at one time. No player may enter the crease with possession of the ball.

With 15 yards between the plane of the goal line and the end line on the field, players have plenty of space to operate behind the goals. In turn, this frees up more space for other players to move around in front of the goal. Both halves of the field have what is known as a “restraining box.” This box is used to ensure that teams do not stall (waste time unnecessarily) on offense, and forces teams to quickly advance the ball down the field and into the offensive zone. Once a team gains possession of the ball in the restraining box on its defensive half of the field, it has 20 seconds to advance the ball past the midfield line into the offensive half. Exiting and subsequently re-entering the defensive restraining box with possession of the ball results in a change of possession. In the offensive half of the field, a team is allowed to possess the ball outside of the restraining box for a maximum of 10 seconds. Failure to enter or re-enter the restraining box on offense within the 10-second time frame results in a change of possession. The team that is winning in the final two minutes of a game must keep the ball in the restraining box once it has entered the box with possession.

Should the ball leave the box under any circumstances, the trailing team will be granted possession in its offensive half of the field. The Teams There is no limit on the number of players on a team, but there is a limit as to how many players are on the field at one time. Each team has 10 players on the field at once (barring a penalty), at four different positions. The position breakdown is as follows: One goalie Three midfielders Three attackmen The job of a goalie is to defend his team’s goal against shots by the other team’s offense. Goalies use sticks with a head about four to five times larger than a normal stick head, enabling them to catch or block shots with greater ease. The shaft of a goalie stick is normally about six inches longer than that of a regular field player. Goalies also wear a chest pad, helmet, gloves and throat guard to protect them from injury by hard shots. Defensemen are charged with the task of guarding the opposing team’s attackmen around the goal area. They play almost exclusively on the defensive half of the field, though they are permitted to enter the offensive half.

Defensemen are allowed to use sticks that are about twice as long as those of midfielders and attackmen, giving them an advantage when closely defending a skilled offensive player. Midfielders operate mostly in between the restraining boxes, hence the name midfielders. They play both offense and defense, and frequently run up and down the field. Midfielders are substituted in and out of the game often, as running up and down the field in full pads is very tiring. Attackmen have the job of creating the majority of their team’s offense. They operate near or behind the opponent’s goal, and exclusively look to initiate offense through passing, dodging and shooting. Attackmen generally have the best stick skills on the team, and are normally the best passers and shooters. Attackmen play the majority of the game on the offensive half of the field, though they may enter their team’s defensive half. Teams are permitted to have up to four players on the field carrying long sticks, which are normally used by the defense.

Many teams will employ what is known as a “long-stick midfielder” or “LSM.” These players normally occupy the midfield position on defense and for faceoffs, and substitute out of the game when their team gains possession of the ball in the offensive end. However, some are skilled ball-handlers and look to initiate the transition game for their team by pushing the ball up the field and into the offensive end. Equipment All players on the field must wear a uniform with a number unique to them, as well as matching team shorts. The uniform number may be any single or two digit number from 1 to 99. Lacrosse sticks must adhere to regulations regarding length and width. Attackmen and midfielders must use a stick between 40 and 42 inches long. Defensemen are permitted to use a stick up to 72 inches long. Goalies also may use a stick up to 72 inches long. Protective equipment is standardized for all positions, save goalies. In addition to their stick, field players must wear the following equipment: Helmet with mouth guard and chin strap Shoulder pads Arm pads Gloves Goalies have a different set of equipment, as their physical contact on the field is slightly different from the rest of the players.

They are required to use the following equipment: Helmet with mouth guard, chin strap and throat guard covering the neck Chest protector Goalies are allowed to wear pants, while other players on the field are not. Though it is not technically required, a protective cup is highly recommended for all players. Penalties and Fouls There are two different kinds of fouls in lacrosse: Personal and technical. Fouls and infractions are enforced by removal of the offending player from the field of play, and/or awarding possession to the opposing team. A personal foul generally involves an infraction that has a malicious intent, such as slashing or unnecessary roughness. Personal fouls are punishable by penalties of one to three minutes in length. These fouls give the fouled team a “man-up” situation, where it has an extra player on the field, as well as possession of the ball at the beginning of the penalty. Most penalties allow the offending player to be released from the penalty box if the opposing team scores a goal before the penalty time has expired. However, some personal fouls carry an “unreleaseable” penalty, where the offending player must serve the entirety of his penalty in the box, regardless of how many goals are scored.

Technical fouls usually involve a moving or time violation, like an illegal screen, offsides or interference. They result in a 30-second penalty if the fouling team does not have possession of the ball at the time of the foul. If there was no possession or the fouling team had the ball when the foul was committed, then the ball is awarded to the team that was fouled. Procedural Items Lacrosse games are divided up by four quarters of equal time. Collegiate and professional games last a total of 60 minutes (15 minutes per quarter), and most scholastic-level games last 48 minutes (12 minutes per quarter). If the score is tied at the end of the four quarters, “sudden death” five-minute overtime periods are be played until a goal is scored to win the game. All overtimes begin with a faceoff. Every game begins with a faceoff, which also occur at the beginning of each quarter and after each goal that is scored. Teams usually have one or more players designated as faceoff specialists.

During a faceoff, these players crouch down on their respective team’s side of the midfield X, sticks resting parallel to the midfield line on the ground, and with the back of their stick heads and pockets facing each other. The ball is placed between the two heads, and the players must remain still until the referee blows the whistle and gives the signal to begin. At this point, each player attempts to use his stick and body to gain control of the ball. Faceoff specialists employ various techniques for manipulating the ball, including sweeps, clamps, pushes, and “plunger” moves, in which the player uses the back of the stick head to push the ball forward. During a faceoff, only midfielders are allowed to roam the field to try to secure the ball for their team. Attackmen and defensemen must stay inside their respective restraining boxes until someone picks up the loose ball and “possession” is called by the referee. If the ball enters the restraining box before possession is called, attackmen and defensemen are permitted to pick it up, but they still may not leave the box until there is possession. With the exception of the goalie, no players on the field may purposely touch the ball with their hands.

Kicking the ball is allowed, however, and players may legally kick the ball into the goal to score. Body checking is legal in lacrosse. However, areas on the body where a player may body check another player is limited. Any contact on the front or side of the body, below the neck and above the waist, is legal. The checking player must have both hands on his stick, and may not cross-check (only legal in some indoor leagues, a cross-check occurs when a player has both hands on the shaft of the stick and hits another player with the section of the shaft between the hands). The player being checked must have possession of the ball, or be within five yards of a ball on the ground or in the air at the time of the check. Players may not lead with their head/helmet, and are not allowed to have more than a 10-yard running start when delivering a check, or they will be assessed a personal foul for unnecessary roughness penalty. The Professional Game (Outdoor) When Major League Lacrosse (MLL) began play in 2001, league organizers were looking for ways to make the game more appealing to the casual sports fan.

For the most part, game play is the same as in the lower levels of the sport. Just the same, MLL founders borrowed from the sport of basketball, taking the ideas of a shot-clock and two-point shot line and applying them to lacrosse. The restraining box was removed from each half of the field, giving the midfield line much more significance. The idea was to make the game more offensively oriented and played at a faster pace, thus creating more shots, scoring chances, and goals. MLL games routinely see teams score 20 or more points in a game, and much of the offense is geared toward transition and fast-break scoring. Here is a more detailed description of the MLL’s two most distinct rules: Shot clock: The shot clock in the MLL is a 60-second timer that begins when a team gains possession of the ball in its offensive half of the field. The team playing offense has 60 seconds to take a shot at the cage. The shot must either go in the net or make contact with the goal or goalie in any manner. If the shot clock expires during an offensive possession, the opposing team is given possession at midfield.

Two-Point line: The two-point-line is an arc that extends out from the exact center of the goal with a radius of 16 yards. Like the three-point line in basketball, a shot that goes in the goal from beyond the two-point line counts for two points on the scoreboard, instead of the usual one point. A shooter must have both feet completely beyond the line at the release of the ball, but any other part of his body or stick may be crossing the line at the time of release. The Professional Game (Indoor) The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is an 11-team indoor league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The indoor game is slightly different from the field game, with the biggest difference being the size of the field. Indoor lacrosse is played in buildings that regularly house hockey games. For these lacrosse games, the ice surface for hockey is simply covered with artificial turf. The hockey boards are in play, making it unlikely that a ball would go out of bounds. The smaller field size means that teams only have six players (five runners and one goalie) on the field at a time. No players may use a stick longer than 42 inches.

The goals in the indoor game are much smaller than the field lacrosse goals, measuring 4 feet high by 4 feet, 9 inches wide. With the smaller goals making the goalies much more likely to be hit by shots, goalies wear very large leg pads. They are reminiscent of a baseball catcher’s leg pads, only slightly larger. Each goal is surrounded by a crease measuring 9 feet, 3 inches in diameter. No offensive player may intentionally enter the crease. With a field and set of rules that are highly reminiscent of those in other major sports, lacrosse is quickly gaining popularity among casual sports fans. Overall, the fast-paced action and physicality of the game make lacrosse a very easy sport to play or enjoy as a spectator. Share this Guide: Lacrosse - The Canadian Encyclopedia Sports Lacrosse Lacrosse is one of the oldest organized sports in North America. While at one point it was a field game or ritual played by First Nations, it became popular among non-Aboriginal peoples in the mid-1800s. When the National Lacrosse Association of Canada was formed in 1867, it was the Dominion of Canada’s first governing body of sport.

Lacrosse was confirmed as Canada’s official summer sport in 1994. The Canadian national lacrosse teams (men and women) rank highly in the world standings, both in field and box lacrosse. Lacrosse is one of the oldest organized sports in North America. While at one point it was a field game or ritual played by First Nations , it became popular among non-Aboriginal peoples in the mid-1800s. When the National Lacrosse Association of Canada was formed in 1867, it was the Dominion of Canada’s first governing body of sport. Lacrosse was confirmed as Canada’s official summer sport in 1994. The Canadian national lacrosse teams (men and women) rank highly in the world standings, both in field and box lacrosse. Lacrosse is a team sport in which players pass, catch, and carry a rubber ball, using sticks with a netted pouch at one end. The object of lacrosse is to accumulate points by shooting the ball into the opposing team's goal. The early versions of the game involved large teams of Aboriginal warriors playing over a field that could be over a kilometre in length.

Since that time, lacrosse has changed significantly, and there are now four distinct games in Canada: men's field lacrosse, women's field lacrosse, box lacrosse, and inter-crosse. History of Lacrosse The history of lacrosse is difficult to trace, for fact often meshes with fiction, and many aspects of the sport's history have been passed on as folklore. One of the most famous legends involving lacrosse dates from Pontiac 's Rebellion of 1763 , in which the Ottawa chief reportedly staged a game in order to distract British soldiers and gain entry to Fort Michilimackinac in what is now Michigan. First Nations warriors had played similar ball games for centuries before this early exhibition game. Aboriginal Origins Members of the various Algonquian language groups referred to early ball games as baggataway. Strong similarities among the war club, lacrosse stick, and even the drumstick, shown in photos of early Ojibwa implements, support the connection between these early ball games and the later development of lacrosse. There is also a strong link between lacrosse and the Mohawk ball game known as tewaarathon.

As with other early Aboriginal ball games, tewaarathon served a number of functions; as the game was played by a large number of warriors on fields that could be over a kilometre long, it kept young men fit and strong for both war and hunting. It could also be played to strengthen diplomatic alliances, support social conformity and economic equality, and honour the gods. In general, Aboriginal women were excluded from these games, although in some First Nations women did play ball games on their own, or with men (see Hall). Early European Accounts One of the first written Canadian references to the activity of lacrosse appears in the 1637 journals of Jesuit missionary Jean de Brébeuf . In his journal, Brébeuf records entire villages playing each other in games of “crosse” (see Fisher). While some authors allege that Brébeuf gave the sport its name because the stick resembled a bishop's crosier, Brébeuf's own writings mention nothing of the similarity; moreover, he does not provide a clear enough description of the activity to determine whether these ball games were the same as the game of lacrosse.

Historian Douglas Fisher argues that the origins of modern lacrosse lie in the Mohawk game of tewaarathon. After the American Revolution , many Iroquois relocated along the St. Lawrence River and the Grand River . The Iroquois had allied with the British government during the war, and were forced to leave their traditional lands when the young Republic gained its independence. The Mohawk at Saint Regis, a Jesuit mission close to Montréal , played ball games so frequently that the missionary complained it interfered with attendance at church. In the 1830s, visiting anglophones from Montreal noticed the games and learned to play from their Mohawk neighbours, adopting the French term lacrosse for their new pastime. The first recorded match between anglophones and Mohawk took place on 29 August 1844. In 1856, lacrosse enthusiasts formed the Montreal Lacrosse Club, followed soon by the Hochelaga and Beaver Clubs.

When the Prince of Wales visited Montreal in August 1860, the locals staged a “Grand Display of Indian Games,” including a match between 30-man Iroquois and Algonquian teams, and another between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teams. Evolution of the Modern Sport In September 1860, one month after the Prince’s visit, a young dentist named William George Beers wrote a pamphlet that set out some rules and instructions for the game, which until then had had no written regulations. Beers, a strong nationalist, not only designed a set of rules for the game, but also replaced the deerskin ball with one of hard rubber. He became known as the father of modern lacrosse. In 1867, the sport made its first appearance in England, when Captain W.B. Johnson travelled with 16 players for an exhibition game in Fulham, near London; most of the players were from the Iroquois Nation, but some other nations were represented on the team as well. In 1876, two squads from Canada (one Aboriginal and the other non-Aboriginal) played in front of Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle.

A third successful tour followed in 1883. The National Sport of Canada? Mythology surrounding lacrosse still abounds, particularly with respect to its status as the National Sport of Canada. Beers was so enthralled with the sport that he felt it should be the national game, even though, at the time of Confederation, cricket was the most popular summer sport in the land. In 1867, the Dominion's first national sport governing body, the National Lacrosse Association of Canada, was formed, adopting as its motto: "Our Country and Our Game." Beers campaigned for lacrosse to be named the country’s national game, and claimed that Parliament had made it official in 1867. However, even though many Canadians believed Beers, there is no evidence that Parliament officially proclaimed lacrosse as the national sport at that time. While there may not have been any official parliamentary record of lacrosse being proclaimed the national sport of Canada in 1867, it was arguably the de facto national sport for many decades. In 1994, however, a zealous hockey fan and Member of Parliament, Nelson Riis, introduced a private member's bill that declared hockey the national sport of Canada.

After much debate, the bill was amended to make hockey the official winter sport and lacrosse the official summer sport. The National Sports of Canada Act received royal assent in May of that year. To many lacrosse fans, however, lacrosse has always been the only national sport — and always will be. Visitors to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in New Westminster , BC, will notice that the bronze plaques listing the Hall of Famers continue to be embossed with, "Canada's National Game." Lacrosse in Canada Today There are four distinct versions of lacrosse played in Canada today: men's field lacrosse, women's field lacrosse, box lacrosse, and inter-crosse. Men's Field Lacrosse Men's field lacrosse is played by two teams of 10 on an outdoor field. The most noticeable difference between field lacrosse and other forms is the use of much longer sticks by the three defencemen on each team. Canada has a rich history in field lacrosse, and one Canadian team — the Hamilton Nationals — competes in Major League Lacrosse, a professional field lacrosse league in North America.

The Canadian national team is one of the top field lacrosse teams in the world, and competes in the World Lacrosse Championships, which take place every four years. In 2006, Canada won its first championship in nearly three decades when it defeated the United States of America 15–10. At the 2010 Championships in Manchester, England, Canada was narrowly defeated by the US team in the championship final. The 2010 World Lacrosse Championships were notable for the absence of one of the strongest lacrosse teams in the world, the Iroquois Nationals. The Iroquois Nationals represent the Haudenosaunee (see Iroquois ) on both sides of the Canada–US border; it is the only First Nations team that has been sanctioned to compete in international sporting competitions. The team was accustomed to travelling with their Haudenosaunee passports, but British officials refused to allow them entry, stating that the passports were not acceptable forms of identification. The Iroquois Nationals had competed in the world championships since 1998, winning fourth in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

However, as they did not play in 2010, they were automatically demoted to last place in the world standings. After the team launched two appeals, the Federation of International Lacrosse announced in June 2013 that the Iroquois Nationals would compete in the elite Blue Division in the 2014 Championships. Women's Field Lacrosse Women's field lacrosse is a non-contact sport played with 12 players per team. Ball movement and effective stick handling are key elements of the sport, and the shallowness of the stick's pocket makes catching and maintaining control of the ball more challenging. The first game of women's field lacrosse took place in Scotland in 1890, and the first international women’s match was played at Richmond Athletic Ground (near London, England) in 1913 between Scotland and Wales. The game spread from the British Isles to North America, although there seems to have been more resistance to women’s lacrosse in Canada than the United States (see Hall). Team Canada has ranked among the top women’s lacrosse teams in the world.

At the FIL World Cup in Oshawa , Ontario, in July 2013, the Canadian senior women’s lacrosse team reached the final for the first time in their history, losing to the defending American champions. With their silver medal, the team moved to second in the world standings. The under-19 team was ranked third in the world as of 2013. Box Lacrosse Box lacrosse was developed in Canada in the 1930s as a way to take advantage of hockey arenas left vacant during the summer months. It is the most popular form of lacrosse in Canada, and is played by both men and women (indeed, many top field lacrosse athletes play box lacrosse as well). Boxla (as it is also known) is sometimes referred to as the fastest sport on two feet. The game is played by teams of six players; rebounds and checks off the boards make the game exciting to watch, and a 30-second shot clock, which requires a team to either shoot in half a minute or relinquish the ball to their opponent, leads to a high-scoring game. Box lacrosse is usually played on a cement surface.

However, professional indoor lacrosse (which is very similar to box lacrosse) is played on a turf carpet. A number of Canadian teams compete in the National Lacrosse League, a professional indoor lacrosse league in North America, and in 2012 the professional Canadian Lacrosse League was formed. Box lacrosse is very strongly represented in Canada, and the national team has won every World Indoor Lacrosse Championship since the competition first began in 2003. The Iroquois Nationals team placed second in all three events, and was only narrowly defeated in overtime during the 2007 final. Inter-Crosse Inter-crosse, the newest form of lacrosse, is a low-risk activity, designed for schools and recreation programs. The easy-to-play indoor game uses molded plastic sticks and a soft, lightweight ball, and teaches participants the fundamentals of lacrosse: scooping, carrying, passing, and catching the ball.

Question: How many players in a women's lacrosse team?
Answer: 12